Don Baylor, former AL MVP, dies at 68

Former American League MVP and MLB manager Don Baylor died Monday after a long battle with cancer, his family confirmed. He was 68.

Author:
A.J. Perez, USA TODAY Sports , KHOU

Published:
10:57 AM CDT August 7, 2017

Updated:
11:32 AM CDT August 7, 2017

Former American League MVP and MLB manager Don Baylor died Monday after a long battle with cancer, his family confirmed. He was 68.

Baylor spent 19 seasons in the majors with six teams, including the then-California Angels, where he was tapped as the 1979 league MVP.

“Don passed from this earth with the same fierce dignity with which he played the game and lived his life,” Baylor’s wife, Rebecca, said in a statement provided by the Angels on Monday.

Baylor slugged 338 home runs and finished his career playing in three consecutive World Series for different teams -- the 1986 Boston Red Sox, 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins and the '88 A's.

Baylor was the Colorado Rockies' first manager in franchise history, guiding them to the first National League wild-card berth in 1995. He managed nine seasons overall between the Rockies and Chicago Cubs, posting a 627-689 record.

As recently as 2014, he served as Los Angeles Angels hitting coach but was not retained after one season.